
#1''*- 



I.-,, 



'■*^'l'*',?l ^ 



\ 



(UUL.~JM..M,UJ 



|.>\r 



1l!LJ' N\4N/\NDER<:'^'^' GOR'V> 



RADIANT STAR 



Mrs. Van Anderson Gordon has also 
written: The Journal of a Live "Woman, 
The Mystic Scroll, The Right Knock 
and Carroll's Conversion (It Is Possible); 
The Story of Teddy ( for children ) , 
Temple Teachings & The Illumined Life. 
Information regarding any of the fore- 
going works can be had now of THE 
LITTLE BROTHER PUBLISHING 
COMPANY at J 301 California Street, 
SAN FRANCISCO 



Radiant Star 

A POEM BY 
Helen Van-Anderson Gordon 




9AN FRANCISCO 

The LittU Brother Publishing Company 

MCMXI 



I'd 3r]3 



\(M\ 



Copyright, J9H, by L. Van Anderson. 



£ -S7^ 



4;C:.A3i4053 



DEDICATED 

TO NOBLE SOULS 

EVERY\C^HERE _^ 

WHOSE LIGHT IS SHINING 

WHEN THEY 

KNOW IT NOT 



FOREWORD 

As Radiant Star, 

That shineth far 
Upon Earth's midnight darkness deep. 

Doth thro' the night 

A beacon light 
Become for wandering feet. 

So souls may shine. 

With love divine 
To light Life's lonely midnights dark 
For those who struggle on apart. 
Bewildered, lone and sick at heart. 

O Soul divine. 

Arise and shine. 
Send forth thy radiant love-fiiled beams 

Till all who pine 

In sorrow's line 
May spring, awakened from their dreams 

Of loss and pain 

To walk again 
With hope and courage toward the Day. 

O Star of Life, in every ray 

Send love and light upon Earth's way. 



1 




The Mask of Grief that binds the soul 
And makes a desert of the world. 




THE PRAYER 

LONE and sighing as one disheartened by 
Repeated failure to achieve the goal 
For which she labored, a Woman sat beside 
A table and leaned her tired head upon 
Her hand. The night was still and sultry with 

A stifling heat. The light grew dim. A moth 
That fluttered to the fatal glow at last 

Had fallen victim to its blind ambition. 
Unheeding sat the lonely one, nor heard 

The katydid which chirped so cheerily in 
The grass outside, nor smelled the faint sweet odors 

That floated through the open window of 
The humble home. The blackness of her grief 

Was like a thick-wove mantle wound and bound 
Around her, imprisoning every sweet 

And tender impulse in her anguished heart. 
But suddenly despair unlocked the gate 

Of tears. The Woman cried aloud and wrung 
Her hands, v/hile scbs and tears bespoke her torture 

And then the tumult passed. Selfless, she prayed: 



RADIANT STAR 



"So lonely, lonely, Lord, am 1, since he, 
My precious boy was taken from my arms! 
And now 1 pray for place amongst Thine own 
Whose lives are given to Thee, for Thy world's 

betterment. 
No gift have ] to bring, dear Lord, except 
The gift of love, for love's dear sake, to those 
Who need. Thou knowest how circumscribed my life 
Has been, how bound about by petty cares, 
How lacking in the time to do the work 
In Thy great world where work is needed most. 
] have no special skill of mind or hand. 
Dear Lord," she prayed, ''I cannot sing to charm 
Away the pangs of loneliness or grief — 
] cannot teach, nor preach, nor paint great pictures, 
Nor tell of dawns or sunsets, or scenes on land 
Or sea, that make my heart enlarge 
But leave my tougue helpless and mute. 
My Father, 1 can but serve in homely ways; 
But here! My arms are waiting to be filled — 
CTwas he, my boy, who taught them how to love.) 



THE PRAYER 



My heart is beating true; my feet but wait 
Thy call to bear Thy message where Thou wilt. 
And now, O God, ] only wait Thy placing — 
But let it be a place of breadth and scope, 
Where ] can love and serve Thy needy ones 
Most mightily. My heart is starving since 
My boy is gone. Yet not for self do ] 
Ask Love, but only for the loveless ones 
Who do not know its blessedness. 

Amen." 



11 




Sweet Sympathy, whose tender heart 
Doth make of her Life's ministering angel. 



THE DAY'S WORK 

"^^^^^HE narrow circle of each day's duty seemed 
■ ^ J The same, nordid the tasks thatfilled the hours 
^^^^/ Become less irksome, nor the trials less. 

But in the Woman's eyes' clear wells, there 
beamed 
A wondrous light, as though the soul looked out 

And bade a welcome to each passer-by, 
The while it proffered service and a prayer. 

To her, (the humble seamstress who made their dresses 
For gala day attire,) came ladies gay 

Who often, while with her laid off the cloak 
Of vanity, to tell with sobs, sometimes. 

Of burdens, sore perplexities and griefs 
Too hard to bear. Her words to them refreshed 

Like water cold that came from mountain spring, 
Renewing strength and courage. 

Again, young girls were drawn to seek her help. 
For they, too, found a panacea in 

Her presence, and felt impelled to ask of her 
The questions only such as she can answer. 

And oft in journeying to and fro between 



RADIANT STAR 



Her home and stately mansions where she sewed. 

The children, playing on the street, would run 
To her, and take her hand and ask protection 

From barking dog, the car, or teasing playmate. 
XC'^hile once, a birdling, breathless and forsaken. 

Flew chirping to her hollowed hand for refuge. 
"With heart and hand thus opened wide for service 

She poured her crystal stream of tenderness 
On sad and thirst-parched hearts, until, renewed 

Like desert wastes fresh-washed by mother Nile, 
They grew as watered gardens, rich with fruit and 
flowers. 

The woman, not knowing all this wonder-work 
Continued in her loving helpfulness, 

The while the work by which she earned her daily 
bread 
Ran its appointed round. 

Her private grief was changed to greater yearning 
To be the comforter of those who suffer. 

For this she would become a nurse, she thought. 
And study all the healing arts of nursing. 



8 



THE DAY'S WORK 



That skilled and true, her hands might be more 
potent, 

Her mind more wise to give its ministry. 
And thus with aim and purpose firmly fixed, 

She worked to earn, and save her earnings that she 
Might train for this, which seemed the larger field. 

But long it looked, this path that she had chosen; 
And long, so long, the time of preparation. 

Some days her heart grew sick with weariness 
At thought of all the good she might be doing, 

Were she but free to carry out her plan. 



9 



]]] 




Because thy heart hath loved, thy hands have served, 
To thee hath come the time for knowing Truth. 



THE DREAM 

^I^^^HE long day, warm, depleting, marked by 

■ ^ J pin-pricks 

^^^^ Of irritating circumstance, at last 

Was over. Wearily the woman sighed. 

As languidly she doffed her work-day garments, 
And robed herself for longed-for, blissful rest. 

Before her prayer and silent meditation 
Should prelude the peaceful night's caress. 

Her fond eyes sought the portrait of her boy. 
"Good night, my darling one, good night to you," 

She said. And yearning, kissed the pictured face. 
Then suddenly the tides of memory broke 

Their bounds, and like a tidal wave submerged 
Her mother-heart. Bravely she sought to hold 

The posts of courage, to stay the hard-earned 
bulwarks 
Of patience and sweet faith. But no, the storm 

Must have its way: The long, fatiguing days, 
The lonely nights, the anxious longing for 

The greater work, had subtly undermined 



13 



RADIANT STAR 



Her faltering human strength. / 

She wept and sobbed and wrung her frantic hands, 

Until at last, praying, she fell asleep 

Beside her shrine — the couch of her dear child. 

She dreamed, and in her dream an Angel came 

Ensphered in radiance passing human speech. 
Its rays, in beaming slendor shone upon 

Her eyes grown big with awe and speechless wonder. 
Advancing with majestic tread, and arms 

Outspread in benison, his kindly gaze 
Met hers. What strange, what heavenly miracle 

"Was this that now transformed her consciousness? 
A rare surpassing energy swift rolled 

In thrilling waves through all her awe-struck being. 
It gave her strengh to bear, if need be, all 

The burdens of the world. It keyed her ears 
To hearing music from another sphere. 

And such as language of poor Earth 
Could ne'er decribe. It, like electric fire, touched 

Her eyes and made her see what eyes alone 



14 



THE DREAM 



Can never see. In that first instant when the Angel's 

gaze 
Swept through her, did the miracle take place. 

But hark! His voice of matchless melody 
Awakened echoes in her soul, as with 

An outflung gesture he exclaimed: "Behold!" 
And with the music of the word, a ray 

Of Light shot forth, outreaching far beyond 
The boundaries of keenest human sight. 

In manner wondrous and intangible, 
Her sense of seeing seemed to merge and hold 

"Within the compass of the awesome Light, 
And where it fell, her vision clear did follow. 

Its shaft of radiance revealed such scenes 
As mark the round Earth's varied, teeming surface. 

In groups, or single and alone, she saw 
God's family of souls in all conditions 

And degrees of human life. The young and old, 
The evil workers and the good, ( mixed as 

They are), in vast kaleidoscopic throngs 
That constitute humanity. 



]5 



RADIANT STAR 



"With burdens grievous many toiled and suffered; 
Bewildered, some had lost their tortuous way 

And wandered blindly in the fearsome dark 
Of evil. She heard the cries of children as, 

Bereft of shelter, guidance or the crown 
Of childhood — mothers' tenderness — they roamed 

Through streets, or worked in factories or mines, 
"Where Nature, outraged, bent their tiny backs, 

Repressed and stifled all their youthful joy 
And set upon each face the damning seal 

Of man's brutality and greed. 
Again the Light flashed forth. The "Woman saw 

The bruised and the beaten of the earth, grief-bowed 
And needing ministry from heaven. Meltingly 

She cried: "Oh, tell me why this awful suffering?" 
"Most faithful one," the Angel said, "Attend, 

And thou shalt know Life's mystery and meaning, 

These myriad throngs thou seest who live upon 
The earth are souls who wear the mask of flesh 
And circumstance. Through all the years of time, 



]6 



THE DREAM 



Both night and day, in pleasure or in pain, 

In toil cr grief or noble works or ill, 

They travel on the the pilgrim road. "For souls 

Or great, or rich or poor, befouled with sin. 

Or crowned with selfless love are all, Divine, 

Yet often know it not. Through ignorance 

Comes evil, ill and sorrow, until the anguish 

Doth like a fire, purify the heart 

Prepanng it to love its fellows as 

Itself But Life gives lessons through experience; 

Through this is wisdom gained, then knowledge true, 

And power of discernment; then choice of act. 

And so through all the round of human life.'* 

"The innocent, the good, must they, too, suffer?" cried 
The 'Woman, in agony of tears remembering 

The grief-bowed, and the little ones bereft. 
"Look far, and gain the deeper meaning, O 

My child," the Angel whispered as the Light 
Grew dim. 

'*The law of suffering is two-fold; 



17 



RADIANT STAR 



Jt bringeth life to those who serve the sufferer. 

It bringeth death at last to self, for self 

Is hut the husk of Spirit and must die 

In order that the seed Divine may burst 

Its prison walls and live on earth, a flower 

Of heaven, dispensing heavenly essence — "LOyE'* 

And then the Light burst forth transcendently. 

"Behold!" and, as the Angel spake again, 
The Light with mystic power revealed the heart 

And mind, the character and daily aim 
Of those who, man or woman, live on the heights 

Of Life. And as the wondrous glory shone 
About them it wove a shining aureole 

Around their heads, until the beaming rays 
Extended far throughout the night-hued clouds 

Of Earth. So crowned, these noble souls became 
As stars, radiant, splendid, glorious — 

Out-raying star-like beams that reached 
The weary workers at their work; the poor 

Discouraged ones who needed friendly words. 



18 



THE DREAM 



And hearts that pined in darkness — all were helped 
And blessed. 

The vision passed yet still the Angel stood 

Beside her. He spake again: 
"Awake, O faithful soul, and go thy way; 
Because th\) heart hath loved, thy hands have served, 
To thee hath come the time for knowing Truth. 

Rejoicing in thy privilege, be steadfast, 
In fullest faith believing when thy work 

Is finished in one field thou wilt be called 
To labor in the next. 

Arise and shine Beloved. Thy great LOV^ 
Doth make of thee a T{JIT>JJIJ^T STA7{." 



19 



IT IS A GOOD WORK. If it has been 
WELL DONE, we are then satisfied. 

Know, then, that this little book has 
been designed and illustrated by Mr. L. 
VAN ANDERSON and printed for The 
Little Brother Publishing Company at 
the shop of RICARDO J. OROZCO at 
3J5 Sutter Street in San Francisco, on 
the first day of November, Anno Domini: 
M C M X 1 



APR 25 1912 



